Everything About PET/CT Scans Oklahoma

If you heard the word PET/CT scan for the first time and thought of it as something to do with pets, then you may not be the first to think that way. PET/CT scan is often confused for something related to pets. When people hear it for the first time, they wonder if it is a scan for pets. People often get surprised as it is quite an effective scan only for humans. PET scan stands for positron emission tomography scan, while CT scan is computerized tomography. It is an imaging test of tissues and organs' metabolic or biochemical functions. PET/CT scan creates detailed images of structures and functions inside the human body.

What Makes PET Scan Different?

The PET scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show normal and abnormal activity, where it detects cancer, heart disease, and brain conditions. A new tracer is formed for each patient, which is a lengthy process. Tracers are specially designed radioactive molecules which are freshly made at a nearby laboratory. Each one is tailored to a specific function in the body and will show the doctors where that function is taking place. The doctor then runs chemical reactions to create a tracer from the drug used in the brain. The new tracer is purified to function appropriately and must pass the test. Once the test is passed, they are taken to the facility and injected into the patient's bloodstream after measuring the right amount.

The radioactive atom on the tracer loses its radioactivity giving off a subatomic particle called the positron. So, when a positron hits an electron at the right speed, they combine and destroy each other. This energy is released as two gamma rays that travel out of the patient's body in opposite directions. The PET/CT scan is like a doughnut-shaped hole; when the gamma rays are detected, doctors calculate the exact location of the tracer as they have been working on thousands of events every second on the computer. With this, the patient's brain activity is revealed in three dimensions like no other scan.

PET Scan Detects Cancer

It helps detect cancer and brain conditions, allowing doctors to better understand whether your cancer has spread. It also informs if the treatment works for the patient and if the cancer cells are re-developing. Remember, sometimes noncancerous cells can appear like cancerous ones. It is possible that cancer cells may not appear in PET/CT scans. It can detect different types of solid tumors.

• Brain
• Breast
• Cervical
• Colorectal
• Esophageal
• Thyroid
• Lung
• Lymphatic system
• Pancreatic
• Head and neck
• Skin

PET/CT is the most helpful test for determining the cancer stage. It is more accurate than any other test finding local or metastatic tumors. Although PET can't detect microscopic cells, it can detect clusters of tumor cells that metastasized or spread to other tissues or organs. So, don't wait until it's too late! Knowing what to do can empower you to take control of your health, and we can help you in the process. Call Halo Body Scan in Oklahoma at (405) 477-1100 to schedule your PET/CT scan today.

• PET Scan
• CT Scan
• Cancer Screening